Abstract
The aim of this review is to recognize the ability of plants used as food and medicine for our health care. From this point of view, we have studied economical production techniques of medicinal plants and vegetables that have physiological functions such as disease prevention, health maintenance and improvement of physical function. We revealed the suitable cultivation techniques such as the long-term freezing seed storage, and systematic and efficient seedling production of Swertia japonica in the future domestication in Japan. We have also studied the development of a new and friendly product for preparing decoction of Kampo medicine (Japanese traditional medicine) to utilize medicinal plants effectively. It was possible that the decoction of some Kampo medicines in a micro-wavable container could be carried out in substitution for a common method. This study revealed that the improvement of decoction method of Kampo medicine might contribute to conserve the energic or natural resources, especially medicinal plants of crude drugs in comparison with the conventional way. Moreover, the reevaluation of some vegetables such as Japanese radish and carrot in terms of the suitability as materials for “Yakuzen”, and creating and producing of newly low potassium tomatoes for improving the quality of life (QOL) of dialysis patients and potassium restricted patients were also studied by focusing traditional and local vegetables. Some local cultivars containing stronger flavor and taste with higher amount of functional constituents are suitable for our health care than F1 (first filial generation) cultivars. Our research will give feedback each other by cross cutting way, and human health science from the cultivation to utilization of medicinal plants and vegetables will be important and needed for our healthy and comfortable life in the future.
Highlights
To ensure better health and environment is one of the major issues in the 21st century and the important challenges have been faced
This paper presents our attempts to produce medicinal plants for Kampo medicine using effective production techniques, and to develop a new decoction method of Kampo medicine for convenient uses
Kampo is a general term for the unique system of traditional medicine originally developed in Japan under the influence of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)
Summary
To ensure better health and environment is one of the major issues in the 21st century and the important challenges have been faced. The discipline incorporates philosophies of Oriental medicine and aims at maintaining or improving our quality of life (QOL) through a variety of trials. The rapid spread of visceral fat obesity has become an issue in particular, and when this is compounded by risk factors for arteriosclerosis such as hyperlipemia and hypertension, it can give rise to serious and potentially fatal illnesses such as angina pectoris, myocardial infarctions and brain infarctions. This condition is known as metabolic syndrome. As well as the treatment by early diagnosis (secondly prevention), improvement of the lifestyle itself and the environment concerned with lifestyle (primary prevention) is emphasized nowadays [1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
